Two NFL QBs That Will Exceed Expecations & Will Underperform

The QB is not just the most important position in the NFL but arguably is in any sport.

When a team hits on a franchise QB, their future is set for a decade or more.

If a team’s starting QB suffers a significant injury, this derails their season.

This happened to the New York Jets and Cincinnati Bengals last season.

Both teams had high expectations entering the season.

Unfortunately for the Jets, Aaron Rodgers played just four plays before suffering a season-ending Achilles injury.

New York could not bounce back and their season was derailed.

Joe Burrow dealt with injuries from before the season started last year and his season ended in mid-November, which prompted the Bengals to miss the playoffs.

This year, some QBs enter the year with high expectations, like Jordan Love and CJ Stroud, while others do not have high expectations entering the year.

Below, we will take a look at two QBs that will exceed expectations and two QBs that will not live up to their expectations.

Two QBs That Will Exceed Expectations

Certain QBs enter the season with little expectation to perform well or help their team succeed.

However, circumstance and low expectations give these two QBs a great chance to exceed expectations.

Russell Wilson, Pittsburgh Steelers

Russell Wilson is fighting to keep his Hall of Fame resume, which has taken a big hit in the last couple of years.

He has shown he can thrive in a stable environment with a good defense and run game throughout his career.

Wilson did not have those things during his time with the Denver Broncos.

Now, with the Steelers, he gets a very good defense, which is led by star pass rusher TJ Watt.

He gets a much-improved run game with the Steelers under Arthur Smith’s offense and with both Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren.

Expectations of Wilson this season are very low after his last two years.

However, he can easily exceed those expectations with the Steelers by helping Pittsburgh make it to the playoffs and possibly winning a playoff game.

Expectations are low, so if Wilson can help get the Steelers get into the playoffs and play somewhat well during the season, Wilson will exceed expectations this year.

Bryce Young, Carolina Panthers

There may not be a QB entering the season with lower expectations than Bryce Young after a disastrous rookie season.

Dave Canales is the new head coach for the Panthers and he was credited for resurging Geno Smith’s career.

Canales was also a huge factor in Baker Mayfield having the best season of his career last year with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

He was the offensive coordinator for the Bucs last season.

They drafted WR Xavier Leggette and acquired WR Diontae Johnson from the Pittsburgh Steelers to help boost their offense.

Young will be in a great system and with expectations so low, he will surely exceed all expectations this season.

Two QBs That Will Underperform

Certain QBs enter the season with high expectations that they will be successful and help their team be successful.

However, coming off an injury and losing two starting WRs in the offseason will cause these two QBs to underperform this season.

Kirk Cousins, Atlanta Falcons

The huge offseason acquisition by the Atlanta Falcons was Kirk Cousins.

Cousins and the Falcons enter the season with high expectations.

Atlanta is expected to win the NFC South and Cousins is expected to be the main reason why.

However, Cousins will be 36 years old this season and is coming off a torn Achilles.

He also got paid a lot of money, so Atlanta is not just looking at making the playoffs but making some noise in the postseason.

Atlanta does have a good offensive line to protect Cousins.

However, since he is coming off an Achilles injury, he will be immobile and their offensive line will need to perform like a top-three offensive line to keep him upright.

Atlanta has good weapons in RB Bijan Robinson, TE Kyle Pitts, and WR Drake London.

So Cousins is set up nicely but he is a big risk coming off a major injury.

The NFC South will not be a cakewalk for the Falcons.

They have arguably the weakest defense in the division.

Carolina will be better this season with Young improving in year two in Dave Canales’ system.

Tampa Bay has a lot of weapons on offense as well with a better defense than Atlanta.

The Saints always play Atlanta tough and they are a formidable team.

Considering the expectations and money he received, Cousins is in serious jeopardy of underperforming and he and Atlanta are in danger of failing to exceed or meet expectations.

Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers

There is no denying Justin Herbert is a top-caliber talent QB.

However, the Chargers have made life very hard for their star QB.

RB Austin Ekeler and WRs Keenan Allen and Mike Williams are no longer on the team.

These three players were the Chargers’ offense with nobody else on the team coming close to their production.

Herbert is starting over with a receiving corps that consists of two rookies and Quentin Johnston, who underperformed in his rookie year last season.

Their RB room includes Gus Edwards and J.K. Dobbins, both unproven pass catchers.

Herbert throws a lot to RBs, which is why he and Ekeler were successful.

Ekeler averaged 70.5 receptions per year during his time playing with Herbert.

The Chargers have done their QB a major disservice and Herbert is a risk to underperform.